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AMITE
"iYo rn'on wtA Vavcliohkrs."
VOI.. I.
NEW-LISBON, OHIO, FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 18-eV
NO. 1.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY THE
OniO AMERICAN' ANTISLAVERY SOCIETY,
At one dollar and fifty cents a ycnr in advance, cr two dollar
if not paid within six months.
THE SUPERIORTY OF MORAL OVER POLITICAL
POWER.
BY ADIN BALLOU.
Wh'at ,t moral poieerf Th power which ope
Talcg on (ho affections, passions, reason,. and moral
sentiment of mankind, and thereby control t them
without physical Jorcc. It comprehends every de
scription oi influence, which, without applying or
threatening to epply physical coercion, tends to de
termine the will, conduct and character of human
beings.
What is political power? The power of the State,
body politic, er civil government, operating under the
forms of law, and compelling or threatening to com
pel subjection to its requirements by physical force.
It comprehends every description of influenco found
ed on the authority of the State, which either applies
or threatens to apply physical coercion.
Taking these firo poxrera, as they exist in this
-country, and as they are available to philanthropists
end moral reformers, 1st us contract them. We af
firm that moral power is superior.
1. In respects to their general objects.
It is the object of moral power to reifnornto pub
lic sentiment to superinduce a right public opinion
nnd will in the great mass of the people. It is the
object nf political power to overawe and coerce hy
penal laws, delinquent and refractory individeals.
Morel power converts the majority to righteousness in
: spite of ten thousand difficulties. Political power ex
presses (he new public will in the forms of law, and
; by physical force, applied or threatened, overawes
the minority and coerce the unwilling few into ap
parent subjection. Moral pawer does ninety nine
one hundredths of the work, end political power, in
lis ouicml robrs, with a halt unsheathed sword at
its side, follows after, claiming all the credit. Which
is the superior?
., 2. In respect to the number s who exercise them,
moral pou cr is superior.
Moral power is exercised by everv human Icing
in a greater or less decree, and is reflected from eve
ry created thing. It is vested in the pa'riarch and
the new born babe; in the prince nnd the beggar; in
the philosopher ..nd (he idlrt. - conoe -forth-from
beast, bird, fish, insect, trees, plants, flowers, fruits,
winds, fires, (bods, earth, sea and skies, with all their
infinitude of it'artling, grand, pleasant and charming
objects. All these address themselves to tha aflec
lions, pnssinns, reason and moral sentiment of man
kind. They all tend to determino his will, conduct
nnd character. D.'eds, words, signs, gestures, lookp,
tones, tears, sifils, animate and inanimate lnrm,
yes, silence itself more expreysivo sometimes than
ppeecb, all concur in the result. The guilty fly ai
the movement of a loaf, and hear heart-searching
oiim.nuinns in tho moans nf tho pissing wind. A
falling npplo suggested to gieat Newton the la of
universal gravitation, and revolutionized astronomical
philosophy throughout the world. Poets hnve galh
rred inspiration amid the vast wonders and inimitable
beauties of nature; and God's chosen saints havobeen
wrapt in deeper adoration by contemplating tho eran
dour, order, and loveliness of creation. Moial power
is every where, in all things. It is exercised by, or
nt least reilscted from, (ho innumerable hosts of uni
versal nature.
But political power is exercised by only a handful of
human beings. It is vested, nominally, in tho voting
citizens, and exercised by their chosen represents
tives in the several departments of government. And
who are voting citizens? Exclude all females, all
minors under twenty one years oi ago, all paupers
and persons under guardianship, all slaves, all an
naturalized foreigners, and many others for want of
tha requisitu property qualification. The residuo
will be voting citizens, amounting lo less than nxu
f..I'ktii of the whole nation. Deduct from thess tho
Fick,'helplcss, indiflurent, nnd scrunulaitsiy conscien
tious against voting, and the average proportion of
actual voters to the mass, will bo as one to six, or
more likely, as one to ten. Or these, (hero miiBt bo
n mnj irily, to determine any important issue. Tho
parly constituting tho majority furnishes nearly all
the offices nf government, and is itself managed in
its principal doings by a Subtle few behind Jhe cur
tain. ThS whole political power in this country is
virtually in the hands of less then one fiftieth part of
tho people. A lushel of whoat in a mountain of
. i i .1-
Biraw unu ciihi.
3. In respect to the prominent details of their op
eration, moral power is superior.
Moral power unites male and female in mnrriegn,
multiplies human beings, subdues the earth, increase
wealth, forms neighborhoods, nnd builds cities. Po
litical powor takes tho census, levies taxes, trains
V soldiers to do its fiiihtinrr. and assumes tho office of
protecting the people. Moral power educates the
people, intellectually, religiously, morally, socially
and industrially. Political power tickles their ambi
tion, uses up their faculties, consumes their substance,
and punishes a lew of their grosser crimes. Moral
power is busy in the nursery, in the old schojl house,
academy and college, in the laboratory, the library,
the study, the hall of science, tho meeting house, the
conference room, and the sick chamber. Political
power ia busy managing causes, regulating town
meetings, attending the legislature, holding courie,
guarding prisoners, hanging murderers, croping and
branding counterfeiters, whipping thieves, setting
knnvea in (ho pillory, and executing nil manner of !
pal processes. Moral power is insinnt in eeason and
out of pon? :ii, cnilcmvoring to reform and' bless socie
ty. Political power i3 watching jealously -every
movement anso::g Ida pernio lint threatens to lessens
conti-qticncer, reform its abuses, or cutoff its rev
enue. It clings with a death grasp to ail its prerog
atives, iitirn'jniiicc, lormalitice, honors, and emolu
ments. Moral power traverses the highways and by
ways in search of tho fallen end lost to restore thorn.
Political power cores for none of these things. It
knowa how lo punirh, but not how to restore. . Mor!
power rejwrms thousands of drunkards, and thereby
prevents leu thousand crimes. Political power hon
ors respectable drunkards, and protects tin manufac
ture and aalo of drunkard s ruin. Yet if ono ol
them, in his madness, slays a man, or burns a house,
it ostentatiously arrets, tries nnd hangs him. Mor
al power is putting forth mighty energies to abolish
slavery, and elevate three millions ol degraded be
ings to the rank of manhood. It is exerlintr its mul
tiform influence to regenerate a corrupt public senti
ment, and to supenndnco a will in tha peupto CI trie
United Slates to let the oppressed go free. Political
power hinders nnd obstructs the progress of this rn
form by every possible means. It is wedded to sla
very, and will uphold it till a new public opinion com
pels it to aiand off. Moral power is earnestly engag
ed in abolishing the horrid custom of war. Political
powor is doing at! it can, by precept and practice, to
nrefcrve this custom. Moral power is trying to
bring about universal reformation, holiness and hap
pines on enrth. Political power is chiefly concerned
to keep things as they are. whether right or wrong
4. In. rcspctt to their instrumentalities, moral
poirer is superior.
Utok at the numnor nnd cllicioncy ot those in'
flmnces which moral power is everv where employ
ing to enlighten and improve mankind. Though
many of ihem are sadly perverted, and noed to bs
rightly directed, yet Iro n their peculiar nature, end
lee variety, and universal activity, thoy aro capable
of producing stupendous results. There is Religion
acting directly on tho noblcut, and, for good or eVil,
tho mightiest faculty bf human nature, with altf;its
elevating hopes end awful fears, with its thrice ton
thousand ministers, altars, congregations and Sunday
schools; its prayers, sermons, magazines, newspa
pars and tracts innumerable; its Bibluo, comments
rios, hymn books and liturgies; its Bible Societies
Missioonry Sociolios, Tract Societies, Education !q-i
ieiics'and -Thsn'oglonl - Seminaries flftf sanctity, pW
ty, learning zeal-nnd devotion. Is it not alono nn
overmatch for all tho forces of political powor. Po
litical power could not stand a month against thfundi
vided infl'ienco of IVsliaion. If Iho Religion of this
land could be perfectly Christianized in its doctrfncS
and duties, every evil now connected with political
power would presently vanish away before it Next
comes education ; in the nursery, the infant school,
the common school, the high school, tho academy,
tho lyceum, the lecture room, the college, the univer
sity. Count up tl Ihesc, with Iheir school books,
manuals, apparatus and libraries, their teaches, pre
ceptors, tutors nnd eminent professors. What have
we in Iho province of political power corresponding
tn all this? Literature follows and perfects "educa
tion. Think of the a VTnoits, editors and publish-!
ers: of their works, trom the alphabetical primer to
the hugo folio; text books, histories, biographies,
scientific repositories, encyclopedias, fiction, ro
mance and sentiment m every variety of prose end
veree: all that man knows, thinks, imagines or sus
pects, written nnd printed in countless volumes, annu
als, quarterlies, monihlies, weeklies and dailies! If
one nf former timoa could say with truth fcLet
me write the ballads ot Iho nation, and I carewnol
who wrftes its laws' -CO what shall we think of the
concurrent influence of education and literature, c
ing upon iho public of this country through alt these
appliances? What has political power to compare
with it? The higher arts nnd sciences aro not to be
forgotten. The painter and sculptor nre mocking
nature on ennvass nnd in marble. All this is awful,
sublime, sacred, purs, torching, exquisite, strange,
ficelicus, laughable, fascinating all that can move
he soul, or ravish the imagination, is found among
the productions of genius. Tho engraver follows
after, and enables tho proes to scatter hroad cast an
endless variety of pictorial representations. And, as
if all this were not enough, tho Duguerreotypo com
pletes Ynn work. Mnsic, with magic powers and re
sistless charms, as she chaunts the sweetest strains
nf the poet, asserts her importance among tho instru
mentalities of moral power. The miracles of Or
pheus are almost equalled by modoin masters. Who
has nver listened lo the simple, pathetic, soul-subduing,
heart purifying strains of our Anti Slavery
llutchtnsons without confessing tho majesty of music
the potency of its sway over all the feelings of our
nature? Could wo bring every band, every choir,
all tho masters of this cultivating art into the service
of Temperanco, Freedom ond Pence, what "would
they not accomplish for our world? Still more im
portant, moral power claims ns peculiarly its own, po
litical power disdains, the influence of woman. And
who can estimate this influence? It is one that com-
menees mysteriously with the first pulsations of life,
and constantly operates till the unconsciousness ol
death. What doos not the mother, sister, lovor, wife
and friend do for man? Alas, that the influence
should ever be abused as it sometimes is! But it
need not be abused. It may all bo consecrated to the
reJomption and perfection of tho race. Much, very
much of it is also consecrated lo that end. Whero is
the great or good man, of ancient, or modern times;
or where is the great or noble enterprise, that ever
wrl;ij.ht ont blessings for humanity, unsanctioned and
un -HcJ by woman? Whilo heroes are riding their
wt. hicsoi victoriously over the slain, or swimming
in h and ton llirone, the good mother is nursing and
nn t .i'ini)tin, in o'oseurity, benefactors for a degra-dc-Uind
syrT.-ring world. Unnoticed, unknown, un
ask) nnd uuthanked woman nourishes, refreshes.
ch -i era, clava:es and sustains human society All
thiyromise to reform1 and rcstnro , pour fallen hu
ni': 'V, true hearted woman ts among the ,first io
fai'f , hop, charity and good works, lo promote, liar
C1c2.fr-otlenefw, loveliness, tt, eympafhy, del
icatf ftitt'lect, Zal, patience, dsvoti.vi, perseverance
no ,ict, nor counsels, nravers. tears, ami re. alio.
geth :r exert an influence over mankind, to nhieh po
litico t power with its mighly armies nnd navies must
evee euccumb. When woman nre what thar ought
to be. nnd do what they may do. Intemperance, War,
vinI;;ivs nunishmnnt, covelotisoem, crtialty and
crire j will pass avay forever. Then will tho king
dom'. r:f this world, become ths kingdoms of our Lord
Jesu i uhrist. Lvn, we brinir into this catesorr the
-
numsroos family nf voluntary Associations: cbsrila
blc'Kimane, philanthropic and moral reform socie
ties ot every description. All these are ihgtrumen
taliiios developed and employed by moral poiner.
oo nn can estimate ins good they havo dune, or
tne rvn mey nave prevented! Witness their bencvo
lone-:, eelf-sacrifioe, truthfulness and zeal. Sda mv
yiads of wretchod drunkards lifted from the gutter to
noor.ety, reepecinoiuty anr) comfort. See millions of
men nd women prevented from becoming the victims
of intemperance. Hear with what faithfulness and
mow coursge the poor imbruted, helpless slaves are
piesnea lor py aevotea men and women, in the urn;.
enco of frowning political power, wealth and f.lse
renr:ou. Voices are every where crvinz in Ihe wil-
dorm;:, end fo the city, against tha wickedness of the
opprvsor, and Ihe heartlcssaea of the people. Eve
ry corner ot the land it searched as with candles. and
the nation is beginning to f.rmont from centre lo cir
cumference aa with leaven. Ths foolishnss of
preaching and pubhshing the truth is gradually work
ing t.e overthrow of tyranny and cruelty. Mean
time, vVTir. With its corv machinery i mur.fullv aa
sailed, ond opposed in all its hatofuloasa, by the sons
and daughters of Peace. Their weapons are cot
earns!, but vol mighty in ihis holy conflict Degra
ded ko'3, forsaken females are sounhi after, and taken
by band, with tears of entreaty ..by the Sisters o
-Mn"i .nfftfm. ui.awwrii -t.rt--l rte-.iil mi
1 6Toi!&WVrff5?-- Jho gtiifly ano!eadun?eojiou:rimi-
nai, once considered tinht for sympathy or compas
sion, feels tho blessingsof. Prisoner's Friend Socie
ties; is vieited in his dreary call by brothers and sis
ters of charily, who dare tell hioi be has a Father
in heavon, an interceding RoJeemer, and angels of
morcy 'that seek his salvation. Aod when political
powor has done with him, if he escnpo with his life,
these brothers and sisters take him by tho hand, find a
home for him, and do all they can to rosters him to so
ciety as n good and useful membar. Others again
nre busy in improving the condition nf seamen, so
long neglected; -in rescuing Ihe drowning, relieving
psnr.ylcFi sick, afTirding refiigl to tho abandoned, an
asylum to ths nrphan, nnd to tho unfortunate insane:
befriending Iho destitute, feeding the hungry, clothing
Ihe nakod, giving eyes to Ihe blind and soundness lo
Iho lame; enlightoing tha ignorant, reforming the
vicious, preventing pauperism nnd crime, in fine,
blessings Ihe bodies and souls of mankind. Such aro
Ihe instrumentalities of moral power. Such are its
unostentatious but mighty and manifold works. In
the fice of til this, let political power look up and
present its vaunted resources. Ch! its swords, its
muskets, its cannon, its pnwder and hall, its forts, ar
senals, dock yards and ships of war: i's regulars, its
militia, its bannors, caps, fcathcrs, tinsel epaulettes,
particolored uniform; its jail, prisons, gibbets, pillo
ries, whipping posts and stocks; its courts, processes
and technicalities its congresses, goneral assemblies,
town meotings, cnticuesea and vigilance committees;
its wire pullers.jpipn layers, shameless newspapers,
and brazen faced demagogues! all crying like ihe
daughters of the horse leech, 'Give! give,1 office and
salary! Mighty ns political power is, in physical
force and monoy j torriblo ns jt sometimes is in ven
geance, what is it compared with mornl power? And
what is all the good it dors compared with tho good
dono by moral powor? Why then is it so drcadsd,
courted, lauded, and sought after, even by professed
philanthropists nnd mornl reformers?
.But we have not done with the contrast.
5 . In respect to priority, and independence of ac
tion moral power is superior.
Moral power is natural, spontaneous nnd indepen
dent in its action. It originates ideas, feelings, sonti
monts end changes of human conduct. It operates
not only without but against political power; and
obliges political fower lo confirm to its diolatc3. ' As
an illustration, look at the hbo nnd triumph of ihe
Chris'inn reygion. It hnd pr political power. It was
a babe in n manger. Political power slew fourieon
thousand innocents to mnho sure of its destruction.
But it survived and grow up to maturity. Herod nnd
Pilot, Jewish power snd Roman power crucifnd,
slew, burnt, tortured and persecuted. Yet it prevail-
- ! ed in spite of the whole. It was never mightier;
never more ropid in its progress. co it has been on
a small scale with Ihe Temperance Reform. It com
menced in Iho face of all tho untoward laws of politi
cal power, as well as of all tho habits, popular cus
toms and prejudices of iho ngo. Yet it grow in
strength and numbers to ihe astonishment of the
world. It never advanced more rapidly and Irium
phantly (ban when it relied wholly on ths resources of
moral power. What important change was ever
brought about for llie public good by political power
alono? It originates no such chances. It never
thinks of miking nny such changes, till moral powef
bas suggested (hem, nnd prepared the public mind to
acquiesce in tticm! Political power is artificial, me
chanical, and incapable of doing anything cood.
wiihotit ihe cremire, preparative and sustaining in- -
fluonrs of moral f.wer.
0. In resrteei to their freedom and elastkilu "wor1-
al potter is superior.
Mornl pwcr is not restricted M times,, places and
set forms. It is not confJJuJ to certain classaa of,
peroos, Within certain lines of latitude nd.longitude,
nor 10 particular cases nf conduct nnd r.hnrnrlitr. Ii
a chained lo no arbitrarv processes. It is free and
elastic as tho mountain air. It is al home everv
where, emong alt human beings, at all times and
places. Not so wiih publics! power. It ia restricted
r.n every ride by Consiituiiuns. laws, regulations.
nrvcedents. formalities nnd ntaona. It mum not mail.
die with persons or property, excepting at a particular
time, within particular geographical limits, wilh cer
tain preliminaries, and according lo certain technical ,
forms of proceeding. Its every process, this side of
war, is liable to be hindered and quashed, by reason
of soma constitutional, legal or technical dufect. A
Govornor is elected by a single vole, or Ioegs his elec
tion by the accidental omission of a letter in tiis
name on half a dozen ballots. A whole estate is
lost or gained by the inadvertent omission, or inser
tion of a word in tome document or record. Political
power operates through a complex and cumbrous ma
china, with immense internal friction, and very awk
wardly accomplishes a small amount of good at an
enormous expense.
7. In vvnovt other resnests moral ower xs su-
penor.
Moral power operates through all He multiform
processes, end accomplishes its magnificent results
ith little show, and at i's otrn expense. Pjlmcal
power puts on its robes, sounds a trumpet, and pa
rades its machinery before iho public eye, at lbs ex
pense ol the public. It taxee them bs heavily as
they will bear, compels (hem to pay the assessment,
and takeacare to secure to itself an ample remunor-
. ft f - . ! n. "1 r . . t 1
anon. niiT persoua coniinu&iiy uiagnuv Hie uena-
fits conferred on the people by governments, and the
execution of the lots. , But whatever governmeut may
do for the governed lit any way, its always takeacare
to soo itself and its principal functionaries veil paid.
Tjie Chlo of Juatice. Monkey eating u tho cuscso
"for i wo litigant cats, U not malapropos. i net wno
are fortunate enough to keep cleir of political power
are fortunate indeed.
Again. Moral power, hoing unostentatious and
disinterested, exerts a purifying and onnobling influ
ence on the character nf its votaries. We are a II
made wiser snd better by huuiMo snd unsolflsh ef
forts to render others so. And every moral philan
thropist feels that his own soul has grown in grace
just in proportion lo Ihe fidelity and soli sacrifice with
which ho has labored to promote any great and good
cuuso. I his is not the least important part of his
leward. Bji political power has the contrary tenden
cy. It generally renders its devotees more solfish,
corrupt, hollow-hearted and lyranoicai. Many a
docen'lv good man has gone into the labvrinth of
politics, and held office to his own moral ruin. And
where is lliere ono that ever csmo out mori fit for iho
kingdom of heaven ; unless drivon by lingosl from
its sorceries? It requires no ordinary virtue to rnain
tain one's moral integrity against tho seductions uf
political power.
Finally. Mornl powor his devised and accom
plished nearly all the good that has been dono among
mankind since the foundation of tho worid. It has
discovered, invented, and perfected, all manner of im
provemen'.e mechanical, chemical, intellectual, so
cial, moral and religious, which distinguish snd
adorn tho most civilized, anlightencd, nnd christian
portions of mankind. It has done most of these
mighty works in poverty and solitude, with little or
no eountennnce from political power or ils worship
pers, and not unfrequcntly in spite of their most
deadly opposition. On tho other hand, political pow.
or eeldoms patronizes the henefactors of their race tlil
they are quite ablo lo tnko care of themselves. It
generally starves, crucifies, or stones Ihem, and af
terwards erects momimonte lo their memories; or gar
nishes Iheir sepulchres. It is bnsy With its own lusts,
la xuries, pleasures, and self-preservation. It has do-
luged the earth with blood, and ' persecuted many of
tho most righteous causes (hit were ever proposed lo
the consideration ot man. Moral power has always
been struggling to reform political pnwer, and has
with great diftirjlty succeeded in clothing it with its
present respectability. All Iho good there is in it or
about it has bees wrought cut with toil, (ears and suf
ferings by moral power. And it never will become
what it onght to be, till moral power shall have com
pletely saturated it with Christian principle. Then
will it censo Irnm oil call, Iraud, intrigue, and vio
lence, naj wisely coerce the few. that rnav need co
ercion at all, only bv an injudicious, beneficent physi
cal force, which shall cqudly secure the individual
and public welfare.
Moral power is therefore incombirably superior to
political poiccr; in rpspect to their objects; to the
n mbers that exercise them; to the prominent details
of their operation; to ic.r instrumentalities; lo pri
ority and independence of action; to their freedom
and elasticity; to their disitUcrestedness,their expense,
their influence on their devotees, the service they have
rendered mankind, and (heir very nature and tenden.
cy throughout, lias not this superiority been sulli-
eicn ly demonstrated? If, not, lot tho panegyrists
and dependents of political power show the contrary.